Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALCIMEI’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALCIMEI’, particularly characterized by having light purple flowers with a small lighter center, 1 to 2 peduncles, a peduncle that is long and moderate, leaves that are oblong, and is propagated by tissue culture is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis Hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALCIMEI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘PHALCIMEI’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 60 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivar in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 12 to 20 cm to over 60 cm. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes or panicles, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petals, called the labellum, are three-lobed and are often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow, and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plants and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALCIMEI’ is particularly characterized by its attractive and unique light purple flowers with a small lighter center, economical propagation by tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

‘PHALCIMEI’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALCIMEI’ originated from a cross made in February 2001 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The female parent is a purple Phalaenopsis pot plant named ‘05737-0001’ (unpatented), while the male parent is a Phalaenopsis pot plant named ‘07419-0001’ (unpatented). A single plant was selected in February 2005 and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by meristem tissue culture in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands over a 5-year period. The new variety has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

Asexual reproduction of ‘PHALCIMEI’ by tissue culture was first performed in September 2009 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and has demonstrated that the new cultivar is firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europe on Apr. 25, 2014. ‘PHALCIMEI’ has not been made publicly available or sold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

-   -   1) Light purple flowers with a small lighter center;     -   2) 1 to 2 peduncles;     -   3) Peduncle is long and moderate;     -   4) The shape of the leaf is oblong; and     -   5) Plants are propagated by meristem tissue culture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, buds and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of a 50-week old plant grown in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands in October 2014.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds and foliage of ‘PHALCIMEI’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALCIMEI’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALCIMEI’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘PHALCIMEI’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 50-week old plants which were planted from tissue culture in 12 centimeter pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks, continued by a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C. Observations were made in October 2014. Color readings were taken under 4-6000 lux natural light in the greenhouse. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.         -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis Hybrid.         -   Common name.—Phalaenopsis.         -   Variety name.—‘PHALCIMEI’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘05737-0001’             (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘07419-0001’             (unpatented). -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Tissue culture. -   Plant:     -   -   Crop time (time to produce a finished flowering plant).—48             to 50 weeks for a 12 cm pot.         -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Standard, green leaves, raceme to             panicle.         -   Height (including pot, including inflorescence).—61.0 cm to             71.0 cm.         -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—43.0 cm to 47.0 cm.         -   Vigor.—Moderate. -   Roots:     -   -   Root description.—Grey-green-colored roots with branching             lateral roots having grey-green colored root tips. -   Leaves:     -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 6 to 8 leaves are             produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 24.0 cm             to 29.0 cm. Width: 7.0 cm to 9.0 cm. Shape: Oblong. Base             shape: Very elongated. Apex: Unequal mucronate. Leaf blade             angle with the petiole: Between 15 degrees and 25 degrees.             Leaf margin: Entire. Color: Upper surface: RHS 147A. Lower             surface: RHS 146B. Texture: Slightly rough. Thickness: 2.4             mm to 2.8 mm. Venation: Pattern: Parallel. Color of the             midvein: Upper surface: RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS 146C. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 2.         -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—8 to 22.         -   Length.—53.0 cm to 58.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—4.7 mm to 5.0 mm.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Greyed-green and brown (RHS 191A and 200B).         -   Internode length.—32.0 mm to 42.0 mm.         -   Callosities.—None. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, raceme to panicle             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 170.0 mm to             220.0 mm. Diameter (diameter of peduncle of inflorescence):             3.7 mm to 4.1 mm.         -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11             months after planting in a 12 cm pot.         -   Flower.—Height: 105.0 mm to 110.0 mm. Diameter: 112.0 mm to             117.0 mm. Depth of lip: 19.0 mm to 21.0 mm.         -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 10 to 14 weeks.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Free. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:             Mucronate and slightly asymmetric. Margin: Entire. Length             (from base to tip): 54.0 mm to 56.0 mm. Width: 65.0 mm to             67.0 mm. Color (when fully opened): Main color: Purple (RHS             78B) with small lighter center (RHS 78D). At the base:             Purple (RHS 78B) with small lighter center (RHS 78D).         -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Broad elliptic. Margin: Entire. Length             (from base to tip): 54.0 mm to 56.0 mm. Width: 35.0 mm to             37.0 mm. Color (when fully opened): Main color: Purple (RHS             78B). At the base: Purple (RHS 78B).         -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Margin: Entire. Length (from             base to tip): 55.0 mm to 57.0 mm. Width: 32.0 mm to 34.0 mm.             Color (when fully opened): Main color: Purple (RHS 78B). At             the base: Purple (RHS 78B).         -   Labellum (lip).—Margin: Slightly undulated. Length: 24.0 mm             to 26.0 mm. Width: 20.0 mm to 22.0 mm. Whiskers: Present.             Length of whiskers: Long.         -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Type V (as described in the             International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of             Plants (UPOV) Test Guidelines for Phalaenopsis). Color:             Red-purple (RHS 60A) with light purple edge (between RHS 77B             and 78B).         -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Triangular. Color: Red-purple (RHS 72D)             with darker edge (RHS 59A).         -   Callus.—Color: Yellow (RHS 13C) with greyed-purple stripes             and dots (RHS 183B).         -   Pedicel.—Length: 38.0 mm to 40.0 mm. Diameter: 20.0 mm to             22.0 mm. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a             single, short structure called the column, possessing one             terminal anther with pollen grains united into pollinia,             which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located             under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior             with three carpels present.         -   Column.—Length: 11.0 mm to 13.0 mm. Diameter: 6.0 mm to             7.0 mm. Color: Light purple (RHS 78C).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Size: 1.2 mm to 1.4 mm. Color: Orange             (RHS 25A).         -   Ovary.—Length: 14.0 mm to 16.0 mm. Diameter: 2.6 mm to 2.8             mm. -   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of 15° C. and a     high temperature about 30° C.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

The parent plants of ‘PHALCIMEI’, ‘05737-0001’ (unpatented) and ‘07419-0001’ (unpatented), are no longer available; therefore, a meaningful comparison cannot be made.

‘PHALCIMEI’ differs from commercial variety ‘PHALBATZOM’ (unpatented) in that ‘PHALCIMEI’ has larger flowers and a more narrow leaf width, whereas ‘PHALBATZOM’ has smaller flowers and a broader leaf width. Additionally, ‘PHALCIMEI’ has longer whiskers on the lip, whereas ‘PHALBATZOM’ has shorter whiskers on the lip. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALCIMEI’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 